A Guide for Those New to Hearing Loss

Experts in the field of audiology understand the reservations individuals may have about treating their hearing loss. On average, someone experiencing hearing loss will wait up to seven years before pursuing hearing loss treatment. However, hearing loss is best managed when it is addressed early. In order to encourage those new to hearing loss to seek treatment, we’ve create a list of best practices to ensure your success:

1.      Hear the concerns of your loved ones. Hearing loss can be somewhat deceptive. Our brains tend to compensate for lost frequencies, making it more difficult to accurately determine the severity of your own hearing loss. Those closest to you likely have a more accurate reading on your auditory limitations; they may be aware of sounds you no longer hear.

2.      Locate an audiology clinic you trust. When looking for a hearing health professional, you want to be sure your provider is able to offer holistic care. In the realm of hearing healthcare, audiologists are considered experts. In addition to being a hearing loss specialist, an audiologist is also an expert at diagnosing and treating a range of hearing and balance disorders. By opting to go with an audiologist instead of a hearing aid dispenser, you’ll ensure you receive comprehensive care.

3.      Schedule your consultation & hearing test. Once you’ve determined which audiologist you’d like to work with, schedule a private consultation and hearing test. Your hearing test will provide thorough diagnostics on your specific type of hearing loss. During your private consultation, your hearing doctor will discuss the results of your hearing test as well as your treatment options.

4.      Prepare for your appointment. Before your consultation, do some research on hearing related topics so that your doctor is able to address any questions you may have. For example, you might want to ask specific questions about hearing aid styles or inquire about consumer protection laws. The more you know going into the appointment, the more comfortable you’ll feel. You’ll also want to ensure you come to your appointment with your insurance information, any previous hearing test results and a trusted companion. This allows your doctor to understand your hearing loss on a deeper level.

5.      Embrace the process of trial and error. In order to make an appropriate recommendation regarding hearing treatment, your audiologist will ask you and your companion questions regarding your hearing loss and lifestyle. Based on the answers provided, your provider will determine which devices will best treat your loss. It can take your ears time to acclimate to hearing aids, so don’t be afraid to test out a few different styles. Only after wearing them for an extended amount of time will you know if the device is right for you. Discuss trial period and return policies with your doctor prior to purchasing your device.

If you’re dealing with hearing loss in Oregon, we encourage you to take control of your hearing health. To learn more about hearing loss treatments, call our team at (503) 222-3638!

America’s Most Common Occupational Injury

Every workplace presents some degree of hazard to the employed. Depending on your job and work environment, these dangers may range from minor to severe. A desk worker, for example, may be prone to complications from carpal tunnel or prolonged periods of inactivity. Alternatively, a construction worker may sustain bodily harm while working at a site build. However, the most common workplace injury can effect people in a variety of professions.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, hearing loss is the most prevalent workplace injury, with nearly 22 million U.S. workers experiencing unsafe noise exposure. When we take into consideration the impact hearing loss can have on an individual’s overall health, the toll of occupational hearing loss is significant.

In order to reduce noise exposure in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed regulations for employers. This is a necessary starting point; however, some argue it does not provide enough protection for employees, as these regulations do not factor in the sound exposure that occurs outside of the work environment. When considering external noise sources—bars, sporting events, concerts and restaurants, for example—the overall sound exposure can be much more harmful.

Additionally, many employees report that noise protection is not heavily enforced within their work environments. So, while an employer may provide hearing protection, they may not be required to educate their employees on the risks associated with noise exposure. They may also overlook employees who have removed their hearing protection. When there is little desire to take preventive measures, both the employer and the employed suffer the consequences. It has been estimated that the annual compensation for hearing loss disability equals $242 million. Meanwhile, employees are left to endure a lifetime of hearing loss. Seeing as hearing loss has been linked to a number of other conditions—including anxiety, social withdrawal, cognitive decline and depression—this comes at a significant cost to the employed.

In order to address this growing issue, employees and employers alike must understand the impacts of noise exposure in the workplace. We encourage those in our community to speak with an audiologist to learn more about this topic. You might be surprised to discover there are hazardous noise levels present in your professional or personal life. To find out more about occupational hearing loss, or to find out about hearing loss treatments inOregon, speak with our staff today at (503) 222-3638!

What’s New in Hearing Technology?

Hearing aid technology seems to be developing faster than we can comprehend. As the tech industry begins to take an interest in hearing technology, greater improvements are being made at a faster rate than ever before. If you’ve been out of the loop for a while, hearing aids have probably evolved significantly. In order to educate our community on new hearing technology, we’ve complied a list of some of the latest and greatest features!

1.      Designed for the brain, not just the ears. One of the major focuses in hearing loss treatment is to learn how the brain perceives sounds. Some of the newest devices have a sound processing platform designed to deliver signals to the brain that are easier to decode.

2.      Auto adjusting for environmental factors. As the computer chips in hearing aids become more advanced, manufacturers are able to increase the processing power. This has allowed for some devices to effectively change the settings based on the surroundings of the individual. This used to require fiddling with the settings on the device. Now, you can enjoy walking from a quiet Portland street onto a bustling avenue and letting your device do the work for you.

3.      Interactive features. The addition of Bluetooth technology to hearing aids has allowed for newer devices to communicate with the user’s smartphones and other devices. Users can now control their hearing devices directly from their phone. Additionally, they can transmit sound into their hearing aids, making talking on the phone a much simpler task.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a hearing loss, now is a great time to invest in hearing aids. The newest technologies can be tailored to treat your specific type of loss. Additionally, they can simplify some of your daily activities. To learn more about hearing loss or where to purchase hearing aids in Portland, contact our team at (503) 222-3638.

Hearing Loss and the Concert-Goer

Portland has long been acknowledged as a hub for musicians, and nationally-recognized bands are constantly emerging from our local scene. With such a breadth of talent, it is no surprise that our local venues are often packed with enthusiastic music aficionados. However, live music can come at a cost, as the noise exposure can cause permanent hearing loss. As residents of Portland, we embrace our music scene. But as hearing health providers, we strive to educate our community on the importance of hearing conservation. Many advanced forms of custom hearing protection allow you to enjoy all the sounds of a live performance, without allowing damage from dangerous frequencies.

When hearing professionals encourage the use of hearing protection, many assume this means the use of foam earplugs. These plugs can be helpful in blocking out unwanted frequencies, but they can also muffle or alter the sound experience. To state it plainly, those earplugs are old school. Advancements in hearing technology have lead to much more effective hearing protection that won’t compromise sound quality.

For over 25 years, professional musicians have been enjoying the benefits of custom musicians earplugs. These earplugs use high-fidelity technology to process incoming sounds and replicate them at a reduced volume. This helps to keep the original quality of the sound intact, while protecting your ears from harmful sound levels. These devices come in different filter strengths, depending on the needs of the wearer. In order to effectively protect the ear from any dangerous noise levels, an audiologist will create a custom impression of the ear to ensure the musicians plug fits tightly in the canal.

If you enjoy performing or listening to live music, schedule a consultation with one of Oregon’shearing loss specialists. They will perform a baseline hearing test to determine your current hearing abilities and provide you with options for custom hearing protection. Addressing your hearing health at an early age will prevent hearing loss. Treatment options for the hearing impaired have advanced greatly in the past decade; however, conservation is still the best way to ensure you’re able to enjoy music for years to come.

Hearing Aids and Outdoor Activities

In Oregon, we are blessed with one of the most diverse landscapes in the country. On any given day, we can visit the ocean, explore one of many mountaintops, kayak down a bustling river, drive a buggy through sand dunes or go backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail. In the past, it has been challenging for the hearing impaired to experience the full range of sounds associated with these activities. Older hearing technologies were known to create feedback or over-amplify wind noise. Our audiology professionals understand that when you are enjoying the outdoors, it is important to have a natural sound experience. Fortunately for residents of Portland, OR hearing aids have benefited greatly from recent technological advances. Devices and accessories now come in every variation, allowing you to get the most out your outdoor activities.

The invention of waterproof hearing aids now allows the wearer the freedom of taking a spontaneous dip in the water on a hot day. This advancement is especially beneficial to those of us living in the Pacific Northwest, as we are often confronted with the unexpected rainstorm. If your device is not completely waterproof, there are other solutions available to combat unwanted moisture. These include hearing aid sleeves, hearing aid dryers, and dehumidifiers. These products will ensure water does not cause lasting damage to your devices.

If you are concerned about feedback caused by wind or other background noise, ask your audiologist about an in-the-canal hearing aid. These devices are custom molded to fit inside your ear canals, which helps to block out any unwanted sound. New advanced signal processing technologies also help to cut through background noise. High performance hearing devices can now effectively filter sounds and replicate a natural sound experience.

The key to finding the right hearing device is to speak with an audiologist. Let your doctor know what outdoor activities you enjoy, and they can fit you with the device best suited for your hearing needs. If you would like to learn more, or want to find the best place to purchase hearing aids in Portland, call our office today at (503) 222-3638!

Consult Your Audiologist for Proper Hearing Evaluation

Your dog. What a ride you two have been on. You take him to the vet once a year to check his weight, glands, mouth and eyes. If anything else seems out of order, you will rush your dear pet to the vet in a heartbeat.

If you noticed dear old Fido standing by the front door parking at nothing, not responding to his name and not recognizing the sound of his favorite squeaky toy, you would be concerned. Sounds to me like he may be suffering from hearing loss. Is this something you would speak to the veterinarian about? You bet it is. If you would do this for your pet, why are you not doing this for yourself?

If you think a problem is enough of a concern to speak with your dog’s doctor, why are you not discussing your similar issues with your own doctor? If you think you may be experiencing early signs of hearing loss, you should contact your Portland audiologist.

Hearing loss is like any other medical condition, treating it early yields the best results. The first thing you will need to do is schedule a hearing evaluation with your Portland audiologist. They will run through a series of tests to determine your type and degree of hearing loss. This is important as your audiologist will need to know this information in order to create a treatment plan.

The most common treatment for hearing loss is a hearing aid. There are a number of styles and manufactures to choose from. Your hearing lifestyle, personal esthetic and budget will be taken into consideration when deciding upon the best hearing aid for you.

Once the hearing aid has been ordered, your audiologist will program it with the results from your hearing evaluation. You will then be fitted with the device to make sure it sits comfortable and that tones are not too loud or too soft. After a lesson on how to use, clean and care for the device you will be released into the world.

If you think you may be suffering from hearing loss, contact your Portland audiologist.

It’s Not All About Stopping to Smell the Roses

It’s Not All About Stopping to Smell the Roses. It’s a caring reminder and an old saying. “You need to slow down, stop and smell the roses sometimes.” And it’s a good one too. Rushing though your life is no way to have a good life.

Being in a rut and not seeing (or smelling, as in this example) the beauty that is in front you leads to missing out on some of the most important aspects of life; the joys that simple things can bring and the beauty around you. Your soul isn’t being fed and your body isn’t relaxed if you don’t dedicate some time and attention to them.

And, there’s so much that is right in front of you, why not just take notice, right?

In the case of hearing, that question becomes complicated. Sounds can be soothing and an important part of life as well as the wellness of an individual. The sounds of childhood such as the leaves rustling in the trees, the frogs (we called them “peepers”) at night, or the voice of a loved one or good friend—they all put us in a better place and set a lot of anxiety to rest.

Where hearing is more complex is that the roses are there for you to see, and you choose to not stop and enjoy what they have to offer. When a person has hearing loss, they don’t know what they’re missing out on. There is no choice to ignore or embrace it. In that person’s world the breeze no longer dances through the branches, the birds don’t sing, and the conversation of friends and family is lost.

Hearing loss is not to be taken lightly. The longer people go without addressing their loss the more likely they are to slip into depression and a variety of other serious health concerns associated with hearing loss. If you take notice, you’ll see a lot of people wearing hearing aids in Portland Oregon. That’s because we have a lot of beautiful things to hear and appreciate here. Also, new technology and the convenience of being able to see a hearing loss specialist makes it easier than ever to help correct a hearing loss.

There are solutions. But first they need to know what they’re missing. We all need to be hearing ambassadors. Here are some signs of hearing loss that you can look out for:

·         They have trouble hearing people talking on the telephone. 

·         The family complains that the TV is too loud.

·         They strain to hear conversations, which can cause headaches. 

·         They have trouble hearing in noisy environments. 

·         They say ‘What?’ a lot.

·         They tell people to stop mumbling.

·         They oftentimes misunderstand what people say.  

·         They have trouble hearing children and women.

·         They become annoyed at others because they can’t understand what is being said.

All ages can be affected by hearing loss. It’s not just people over 60. Hearing loss is caused by a variety of factors. Consistent loud noises such as music, industrial equipment, and sporting events can contribute, as well as health issues or certain medications.

Keep an eye out for any of the signs in people around you. A hearing evaluation provided by a well educated and trained hearing loss specialist or audiologist is simple, painless and often covered by insurance. It’s the best way to detect any issues early and proceed with the correct hearing care.

I like roses—well, I could do without the thorns—but I love the connection to the world my hearing offers me. Let’s make sure the people we care about get the chance to choose the sounds around them, or enjoy them as they should.